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AlBERTA MUSIC CITIES CONVENTION EVENT PROGRAM
Alberta Music Cities Convention 2026 takes place at the National Music Centre in Calgary from Tuesday 29 September to Thursday 1 October.
The program spans three days, opening on 29 September with a private session for Canadian music cities delegates, before opening to the full conference on 30 September and 1 October. Topics covered include strategies for developing the talent pipeline, integrating music into public health and social prescribing initiatives, and building destination value through music tourism and cultural infrastructure.
The convention coincides with Canada's National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, with an evening program featuring a headline performance by Jeremy Dutcher at the National Music Centre.
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TUESDAY, 29 SEPTEMBER NATIONAL MUSIC CENTRE
12:30 - 17:30
Canadian Music Cities Roundtable. A Closed-Door Strategic Forum for Canadian Music Cities at National Music Centre
This invite-only, half-day strategic forum takes place the day before Alberta Music Cities Convention 2026 opens. Designed exclusively for senior policymakers, city leaders and executive-level stakeholders from Canadian cities and towns, alongside aligned public, philanthropic and sector organisations. The roundtable provides a focused space to build relationships and
advance shared priorities impacting Canadian music ecosystems.
WEDNESDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER NATIONAL MUSIC CENTRE
9:00 - 10:00
Registration, coffee and pastries
Start the day with coffee, informal conversations and time to connect with fellow delegates before the program begins.
10:00 - 10:15
Opening Remarks
Welcome to the Music Cities Convention, setting the context and framing the key themes for the days ahead.
10:15 - 10:35 | Keynote
Indigenous Music Economies & Cultural Sovereignty Recognising National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Speakers
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David McLeod, Co-chair, Native Communications Inc. & NMC Indigenous Program Advisory Committee
This keynote honors the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by examining the vital intersection of Indigenous music economies and cultural sovereignty. David McLeod discusses the path toward authentic partnership, sustainable investment, and the decolonization of music industry structures, highlighting how honoring history is the foundation for a truly equitable future in music.
10:35 - 11:25 | Panel
The Talent Pipeline: Investing in the Ecosystem Behind the Playlists presented by Women in Music
Moderator: Women in Music
Speakers:
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Lacey Chataignier, Louisiana Music Program Director, Louisiana Office of Cultural Development
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Claire Rice, Executive Director, Arts Alliance Illinois
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Eliana Prada, Specialist in Creative Economy, Inter-American Development Bank
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Shannon Sutherland, VP Marketing, Communications and Events, Canadian Council for Indigenous Business
A music city is only as strong as its workforce. This session explores how music cities are creating policies that treat music professionals as a vital labor force, implementing solutions-driven strategies for education, job creation and retention, specialized training, and business attraction that transform local scenes into sustainable, high-growth industries. Through global case studies, panelists will explore how to build a resilient ecosystem that enables creative talent to afford to stay and thrive.
11:25 - 11:50 | Fireside Chat
Small Venues presented by NITECAP
Speakers:
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Brian Block, Founder, Sound City Planning / Nighttime Economy Culture & Policy Alliance
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Raheem Manning, Senior Director, Nighttime Economy for the City of Philadelphia
11:50 - 12:50 | Networking
Lunch
A longer break to refuel, connect and continue conversations with delegates and speakers.
12:50 - 13:10 | Fireside Chat
Indigenous Economies presented by the Indigenous Music Office
Speakers
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Special Guests
13:10 - 15:00 | Quick Fire Presentations
Collective thinking and solutions oriented session
13:10 - 13:40 | Quick Fire Presentations
Quickfire Presentations presented by the International Music Council
Music and Healthcare: How It Can Be a Tool to Unlock Investment in Music in Cities
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Joy Allen, Chair, Music Therapy Department, Berklee College of Music
The Venue as a Public Good: Protecting Cultural Rights in the Independent Sector
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Steve Sleswick, Managing Director, The Tivoli Group
Embedding Music in Local Strategy
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Chip Adams, Director, Texas Music Office
A fast-paced exploration of innovation across the music ecosystem. These four rapid-fire presentations break down siloed challenges into actionable solutions, covering the transformative power of music in healthcare, the potential of Indigenous-led economies, the protection of cultural rights, and the integration of music into holistic local development strategies.
13:40 - 15:00 | Policy Roundtables
Speakers
Community Engagement & Placemaking
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David “Click” Cox, Music Consultant, CLK Creative Work
New business initiatives
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Jinting Zhao, Founder, SHE-Q Audio
Moving from high-level vision to ground-level implementation, these interactive roundtables invite attendees to co-create solutions. Participants will choose from themed tracks—including investment strategies, community placemaking, and technological innovation—to debate challenges and build collaborative frameworks that attendees can immediately apply within their own cities and organizations.
15:00 - 15:45 | Networking
Networking Coffee and Closing Remarks
A chance to recharge, reflect and continue conversations with speakers and delegates.
15:45 - 17:00
Visit to the National Music Centre
19:00 – 21:00
Evening Program: Performance
In honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, join JUNO Award-winning artist Jeremy Dutcher for an evening of music that transcends boundaries.
THURSDAY, 1 OCTOBER NATIONAL MUSIC CENTRE
9:00 - 10:00
Registration, coffee and pastries
10:00 - 10:05
Opening Remarks
Welcome back. A short introduction to the day ahead, building on the conversations from Day 1.
10:05 - 10:35 | Fireside Chat
The Recording Academy's Global Vision: Music, Membership and Local Impact presented by Recording Academy
Speakers
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Shain Shapiro, Founder, Sound Diplomacy
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Ruby Marchand, Chief Awards & Global Industry Officer, Recording Academy
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Todd Dupler, Chief Advocacy & Public Policy Officer, Recording Academy
How can global music institutions strengthen local music ecosystems? Join Todd Dupler, Chief Advocacy & Public Policy Officer, and Ruby Marchand, Vice President of Awards & Industry Engagement at the Recording Academy, for a conversation on the Academy's global strategy, exploring the intersection of advocacy, music cities, local music economies and international membership growth, and why a diverse, engaged membership is central to celebrating musical excellence and supporting a thriving global music community.
10:35 - 11:40 | Presentations
Music Offices Focus presented by the Association of Music Offices
Presentation on 10 Years of Music Export Memphis
Speakers:
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Elizabeth Cawein, Founder & Executive Director, Music Export Memphis
Panel discussion & Q&A
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Moderator: Reid Wick, Director, Regional Advocacy & Member Engagement, Recording Academy / GRAMMYs
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Panelists: Previous presenters
A double program, consisting of three case studies followed by a panel.
11:40 - 12:05 | Fireside Chat
Creative Placemaking: Weaving Music into the Urban Fabric
Speakers
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Juanita Hardy, Managing Principal, Tiger Management Consulting Group
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Cory Crossman, Director, London Music Office & Focal Point, UNESCO City of Music, Tourism London / London Music Office
Creative placemaking is about more than just physical space; it’s about shaping the social and economic fabric of our communities. Join Juanita Hardy, Senior Visiting Fellow for Creative Placemaking at the Urban Land Institute (ULI)—the world's largest network of real estate and land use experts—and Cory Crossman,Director, London Music Office & Focal Point, UNESCO City of Music, for a conversation on the intersection of urban design and music ecosystems. This session will dissect the strategies for integrating music into city planning, fostering cultural vibrancy, and building sustainable spaces where creativity and commerce thrive together.
12:05 - 13:15 | Networking
Lunch
A longer break to refuel, connect and continue conversations with delegates and speakers.
13:15 - 14:05 | Presentations
Music Tourism Focus Presentations
Building Destination Value Through Music presented by Hidden Gems of Music Tourism
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Jaye O’Donnell, Economic Development Director, City of Mesa
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Andrea Dempster-Chung, Co-founder & Managing Director, Kingston Creative
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Daryl Raven, CEO, Queensland Music Trails
Explore how destinations are leveraging music as a core tourism asset. This session examines the strategic integration of music into tourism marketing, major event planning, and local economic development, featuring insights from global experts on creating destination value that resonates with visitors and locals alike.
14:05 – 14:45 | Panel
Music Policy in 2030: Sustainability
Speakers
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Sergio Emilio Parra, Research & Program Manager, Canadian Live Music Association
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Gorg Vella, Executive Partnerships, Advocacy, and Collaborations, Arts Council Malta
What must we build today to ensure a thriving music ecosystem in 2030? This forward-looking panel explores the critical intersections of emerging technology and urban survival, examining how to ensure the future of music is climate-resilient and community-owned.
14:45 - 15:30 | Presentations
Music-Friendly Policies for a Sustainable Workforce presented by Canadian Economic Development
Speakers
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Nathan Walker, Director of Development, Duck Club Entertainment / Music Idaho
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DeMarcus Akeem Suggs, Director, City of Memphis Office of Creative & Cultural Economy
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Andrea Khoo, Deputy Director, Performing Arts (Music), National Arts Council
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Lisa Hresko, Chief Operating Officer, A2IM (American Association of Independent Music)
Four distinct perspectives on the mechanisms that make music-friendly policies work. This rapid-fire session brings together expertise from Memphis to Singapore, bridging the gap between census data, creative sector investment, independent music advocacy, and crowdfunding to demonstrate how cities and associations can cultivate a sustainable and thriving music workforce.
15:30 - 15:50 | Keynote
West Anthem Alberta Music Action Plan - Results-oriented presentation with the Alberta Music Commissioner
Following the launch of the West Anthem Alberta Music Action Plan, this session presents a clear-eyed look at the results and the roadmap ahead. We dive into the specific metrics, policy wins, and strategic pivots that are driving the growth of Alberta’s music economy, offering a blueprint for how action-oriented planning can lead to tangible, scalable success.
15:50 - 16:00
Closing remarks & handover
16:00 - 16:45 | Networking
Networking coffee
A chance to recharge, reflect and continue conversations with speakers and delegates.
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Do you have any other questions regarding the Alberta Music Cities Convention, or want to sponsor? Contact info@sounddiplomacy.com to learn everything related to the event's programme and activities.